Equality & diversity

One Essex Court is committed to promoting and advancing equality and diversity. Chambers does not discriminate against members, pupils, staff, applicants or clients on the basis of race, colour, ethnicity, nationality, sex, pregnancy or maternity, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, religion, belief or age.

As part of our commitment to equality and diversity, Chambers ensures that all those involved in recruitment have training in fair recruitment, reviews its recruitment procedures annually and monitors the allocation of unassigned work among members and practising pupils. A copy of Chambers’ Equality and Diversity Policy can be downloaded here.

Parental Leave

One Essex Court is committed to supporting members and staff taking time off following the birth or adoption of a child. Chambers’ Parental Leave Policy aims to ensure that members do not suffer financial hardship from taking time off and to encourage members to return to Chambers following parental leave. A copy of Chambers’ Parental Leave Policy can be downloaded here. Chambers also supports flexible working for both members and staff.

Women at the Bar

The Bar offers a great career for both men and women and One Essex Court is keen to ensure a strong representation of both in Chambers. Female only client/barrister events are regularly run by members and clerks, and seminars are put on by female members to provide potential applicants for pupillage with an insight into working life at the commercial Bar for women.

Diversity Data

The Bar Standards Board requires Chambers to publish a summary of data collected through a diversity data monitoring exercise to be undertaken every three years. The summary for our 2017 exercise can be downloaded here. A copy of Chambers’ Diversity Data Policy is available here.